Govt launches health screening and management project for tribal students

The screening will be carried out in selected 55 EMRS spread across 14 states of the country. The special focus is on anaemia, haemoglobinopathies, malnutrition and tuberculosis.

The Union government has launched a project to address the health needs of children in Eklavya Model Residential Schools across tribal areas through public health initiatives.

‘The National Level Project of Health Screening and Management through Ayurvedic Interventions’ aims to benefit over 20,000 tribal students. The Ministry of Ayush through its research council Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has taken this health Initiative for students with the joint initiative of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and ICMR-NIRTH Jabalpur.

The project aims to cover the students of 10-18 years of age group enrolled in classes 6th to 12th in identified 55 Ekalavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) across 14 states of the country.

The screening will be carried out in selected 55 EMRS spread across 14 states of the country. The special focus is on anaemia, haemoglobinopathies, malnutrition and tuberculosis. Efforts will be made to inculcate healthy lifestyle practices among students as per the principles of Ayurveda. Also, an integrated approach will be made for the management of the diseases.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Ayush and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in October 2022 to explore the areas of collaboration, convergence and synergy for tribal development.

Accordingly, CCRAS developed 72 Poshan Vatikas in EMRS of 20 states. CCRAS Institutes also participated in the mega health camps during Janajati Mahotsav at Saraikela, Jharkhand.